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Highlight in History
On Feb. 7, 1812, author Charles Dickens, widely regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era, was born in Landport, Portsmouth, England.
On this date
In 1795, the Eleventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, dealing with states’ sovereign immunity, was ratified.
In 1812, the last of three major New Madrid Earthquakes, with an estimated magnitude of 7.7 (according to the USGS), shook the central Mississippi River Valley.
In 1904, a fire began in Baltimore that raged for about 30 hours and destroyed more than 1,500 buildings.
In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized a flag for the office of the vice president.
In 1943, the government announced the start of shoe rationing, limiting consumers to buying three pairs per person for the remainder of the year.
In 1948, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower resigned as Army chief of staff; he was succeeded by Gen. Omar Bradley.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy imposed a full trade embargo on Cuba.
In 1971, women in Switzerland gained the right to vote through a national referendum, 12 years after a previous attempt failed.
In 1984, space shuttle Challenger astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart went on the first untethered space walk, which lasted nearly six hours.
In 1992, European Community members signed the Maastricht Treaty, which led to creation of the euro.
In 1999, Jordan’s King Hussein died of cancer at age 63; he was succeeded by his son, Abdullah.
Ten years ago
Former Enron chief executive Jeffrey Skilling insisted to skeptical members of Congress that he knew of nothing improper about the complex web of partnerships that had brought down the company. Authorities in Oklahoma captured the last two of four escaped prison inmates from Texas who’d been on the run for more than a week.
Five years ago
A Marine CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter was shot down by insurgents northwest of Baghdad, killing all seven people on board. The Food and Drug Administration approved alli, a diet pill that can be bought without a prescription.
One year ago
Speaking to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, President Barack Obama echoed John F. Kennedy as he prodded business leaders to “ask yourselves what you can do for America,” not just for company bottom lines. AOL Inc. announced the $315 million purchase of The Huffington Post website.
Top News
Today in History for Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012
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Jekyll Island reaches milestone in $50M makeover
After six years of planning and 18 months of construction, Georgia officials on Sunday celebrated the opening of Jekyll Island’s new beachfront convention center — the centerpiece of a multimillion-dollar makeover aimed at winning back tourist groups and business groups that had given up on the state park’s dated amenities.
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VIDEO: 'Ring of fire' solar eclipse
The solar eclipse that took place Sunday evening was an annular eclipse, one in which the moon blocks almost all of the sun. Some of the best viewing was in Asia, as with this video filmed in Japan.
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Party leaders refuse to budge on debt positions
Republicans and Democrats are refusing to budge when it comes to their already hardened positions on spending cuts versus tax increases to deal with the nation’s debt.
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Protesters march through Chicago to NATO summit
Thousands of protesters marched through downtown Chicago on Sunday in one of the city’s largest demonstrations in years, airing grievances about war, climate change and a wide range of other complaints as world leaders assembled for a NATO summit.
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Prison guard dies, others hurt in ‘disturbance’
A guard at a southwest Mississippi prison died Sunday and several other employees were injured during what the facility’s private operator is calling “an inmate disturbance” that continued into the evening.
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Today in History for Monday, May 21, 2012
Today is Monday, May 21, the 142nd day of 2012. There are 224 days left in the year.
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SpaceX rocket launch aborted in last half-second
A new private supply ship for the International Space Station remained stuck on the ground Saturday after rocket engine trouble led to a last-second abort of the historic flight.
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Chinese activist who fled house arrest lands in U.S.
A blind Chinese legal activist who was suddenly allowed to leave the country arrived in the United States on Saturday, ending a nearly monthlong diplomatic tussle that had tested U.S.-China relations.
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Financial cuts looming for Ga. Perimeter College
The new leader of Georgia Perimeter College said he wants by next Friday to have a rough plan to close a massive financial deficit, though he could not offer more details to faculty and staff worried for their jobs.
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Collision sends dozens of Ga. students to hospital
A chain collision involving about a half-dozen buses east of Atlanta trapped one driver and forced medical officials to examine more than 50 children for injuries.
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Jekyll Island reaches milestone in $50M makeover
